What Disney Could Learn from Universal

Everything in Disney World comes bundled with a story. Sometimes, I think they emphasize too much on "story" and not enough on "ride." Kali River Rapids is a good example of this - where story sometimes gets in the way of the enjoyment of the experience.

The ride is beautiful; this isn't your everyday raft ride. You are touring through amazing environments and get a spectacular view of Expedition Everest on your journey. The message of this ride is supposed to be one about illegal logging and habitat destruction. The irony, of course, is that we only get the amazing view of Everest because there are no trees to block our path.

But it IS a raft ride, no? Aren't we supposed to get wet throughout? It seems as though there is one big spot to get wet in (the drop at the end), while during the rest of it, you get wet if you are lucky. It's not zany enough; it's not wet enough to be considered a real raft ride. But the Imagineers couldn't make it zanier or wetter without compromising the story they had in place. And the story is so subtle, I imagine most guests wouldn't know what it was until they were told.

I got to ride Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges at Universal Studios during my recent trip. The thing SOAKS you. There is a simple story in place (Bluto's got Olive), and there are props everywhere that go along with it. Every thing in there is part of the story, but it also shoots water. It's as if the Univeraleers(?) cared more about the guests having fun on this ride than they did the complexity of the message.

Popeye's Barges is only one minute longer than Kali (6 minutes to 5) but it feels a ton longer, and a whole lot more fun. Disney could use some of that "fun first" mentality - especially in Animal Kingdom, where serious messages are at the heart of many of the attractions.

Universally Speaking - the Harry Potter effect

I just got back from a trip to Florida, and boy was it hot. One of the hottest days of my trip was Sunday - when it hit 104 degrees, but I wasn't in Disney World, I was in Universal Studios.

My friend and I wanted to see the new Potterland, and I wanted to get rid of my fears and ride a couple of Universal's coasters. We got there near opening time and headed to TWWOHP, but the line to merely enter the land was about 2 hours long! It extended into Jurassic Park. After asking a couple of uh...cast members (?) we decided to wait to get into the land until later that day.

The Potter effect is wild. We rode the Jurassic Park river ride, the Hulk, Spiderman, the Popeye river ride, both Dr. Seuss rides, the Simpsons ride, E.T., Shrek 4D, and the Revenge of the Mummy all before 3 PM - and we ate lunch and played Whack-a-Mole in there, too. We walked on every one of those attractions even though the park was pretty full. Everyone runs to Potterland.

Go to Universal, but DON'T run to Potter first. If you can handle it, go as late as possible. We went at around 4, and while the land was still crowded, it was at least manageable. We got on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey in about fifteen minutes (using the single rider line) and we walked on the Dueling Dragons (er, Dragon Challenge). The lack of any wait times really made the trip worthwhile and really fun.

My review of Potterland, Universal, and the rides will come in future episodes and blog posts. Yay!

Listen to the Land, Listen to the Innoventions Plaza Loop

One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is the music from the parks. There are certain background tunes I can't get enough of, and attraction music that I find myself listening to over and over again in order to relive the rides from home. Each night before I go to sleep, I crank up (to a reasonable, nighttime, NYC apartment volume) Mouse World Radio and drift off to sleep while listening to my favorites. Sometimes at work, I slyly listen to my Disney-heavy iPod when no one else is around. Sometimes I do it when people are around, but they inevitably think I'm nuts for humming along to the Innoventions Plaza background music (infidels!). Let's delve into my most-listened-to, shall we? 
 
The aforementioned Innoventions Plaza background music is one of my favorites. It reminds me of Epcot at night because, for some reason, the music is more apparent when the sun has gone down. It also brings to mind flashes of glowing sidewalks, and the rushing sound of the nearby fountain. It's also the perfect length to listen to while in the shower, if you take really long showers! 
 
Probably, my most-listened to background music award would have to go to the Adventureland loop. I don't think any other music can put you in a better mood or take you to a better place than Adventureland. This is a relatively long loop that goes through a number of different moods and styles throughout. Those drums, man. Those drums are key. As soon as it starts, I'm on that bridge that enters Adventureland from the hub on my way to the Swiss Family Tree House. 

Seriously folks, there is no better way to start your day than to listen to the Main Street USA music when you first sit down at your desk. This is especially true if you start with the opening medley that you hear before rope drop in the morning. You will, no doubt, have that "ding, ding, ding went the trolly" portion stuck in your head all day but, that's not a bad thing. Doesn't it just make you want to be the mayor of Main Street? I know that's where my future goals are leading me.
 
Quite possibly the next happiest piece of music is the Inca Dance from Epcot's pre-Illuminations score. It is so up-beat and joyful that it is sure to result in a Disney mood when you are feeling otherwise. It's brief, so don't be afraid to listen more than once in a row. It can also be played right before or after the Flue Battle, which goes hand in hand as far as pre-Illuminations really happy bits of music go.  
As far as attraction music goes, the entire score of Splash Mountain is at the top of my list. Being one of my favorite attractions in any of the parks, I love to visit with B'rer Bear from afar when I'm home. I have no problem listening to this full attraction and will gladly listen from the beginning all the way through to the "ding ding" at the end. It just takes me to my laughing place, what can I say?

Though Spaceship Earth is not "music" per se, the Jeremy Irons version is my second most-listened-to attraction after Splash. It is just so comforting and soothing that I find myself listening on the subway or in the middle of the day at work. Nothing beats the music at the end, either. You know, the part of the ride where you used to recline and stare at three strands of neon? Ah, those were the days.

Certain extra special things, like Wishes for example, are just too sacred to listen to on a regular basis. Not to mention, I would certainly cry during my evening walk if Wishes was pumping through my ears. The music just brings up so many memories that it is really the next best thing to actually being in Disney World. It's a way of living it without actually being there. It's also a great way to remember the attractions that are no longer with us, ahem... Veggie Fruit Fruit. Oh, how I miss you Bonnie Appetite.

Reviews!

We're being reviewed!

http://themazdisneyblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/5-minute-magic-podcast-review.html

http://thedisneyblog.com/2010/04/23/mickey-heads-disney-podcast-review-4-23-10/

Yay!

Transportation Station

After listening to myself prattle on about Disney transportation, I began to wonder what it is about Disney's transport system that is magical to me.

First, it's the choice. Want to take a boat somewhere? You can do that. Futuristic monorail? Yep. FREEZING COLD bus? Check.

Second, it's the cleanliness. Smells in Disney are one thing, but it's the lack of smell on Disney transportation that gets me. That piped in fresh air smell on the Disney boats? That's FRESH air! The overly clean/air conditioned smell on the buses? That's what clean smells like. And lastly, that smell on the Magical Express bus? Well, that's just magic.

Third, it's the audio. That's why I chose it for so many of my top five narrations! The bus narration still has that wrapping-on-the-Christmas-present feel to me. It's still new enough to be unique, and you know it will lead to something great. The monorail's audio is magic all its own, because most of your senses are being treated to something great.

Lastly, and I know that it's been a hot topic this past year, but it's the safety. I never feel like I'm in danger on a Disney monorail or bus. Once I'm in my seat, I close my eyes and relax. I'm either going to be having fun soon, or I'm going to collapse into my room soon. They promise to take care of me - and they deliver.

Alice, revisited & Stacey Wins

I saw Alice this weekend with my mom. I was not completely convinced that this one would be a winner. I'm not too into nonsense. I like sense.

But Alice's muchness won me over. I was impressed by the different scenes and the plot that eventually found its way through Underland. The thing about this movie is - it borders on becoming a movie that's not like we know it. It's a bit of abstract art; things don't have to make sense (and don't) for you to enjoy them. I didn't love every scene, but I was interested in every scene.

Mom loved it.

Part II

I don't read many blogs. I actually don't read any, except for this one and "Confessions of a Disney Nerd." Its writer, Stacey, posts pre- and post- trip reports in great detail, and she really sums up what a Disney World nerd loves about the entire planning process.

This week, Stacey won a 7 night trip to Disney World courtesy of Orbitz. All she had to do was tweet! I think it's cool that a real Disney fan won this one - and I can't wait to read all about it. Congrats, Stacey!

I Can't Wait for a Very Important Date

I can barely contain just how excited I am about this Friday's release of Alice in Wonderland. It is the culmination of all my favorite movie elements; Disney, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and, of course the story itself, Alice in Wonderland. The Disney animated cartoon is one of my favorites of all time, I can't wait to see it in all of its live-action splendor! 
 
I'm not usually the advance-ticket-buying type, but I have my tickets ordered to see this on Friday, 3-D Imax style. I am anticipating all things wonderful and while I know this will be drastically different from the cartoon, I hope a few elements are still retained. These elements include but are not limited to: mome raths, the talking door knob (who is the only character that did not originate from the Lewis Carroll books), and Bill the lizard with a ladder. The mome raths, in particular, are such a minute part of the cartoon, but nevertheless I would love to see them in their 3-D glory, pointing the way for Alice. I would also like to see the Jabberwocky included, even though he does not appear in the animated classic from 1951.

Every time I get excited about this film, the naysayers remind me of 2005's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Everyone hated it, and I didn't care for it much either. Can't we just put that movie behind us all? Sure, it wasn't as brilliant as the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory original with Gene Wilder; but what could be? I have faith that the Tim Burton and Johnny Depp one two punch can pull this one off.